Australia star says current team out to re-write the record books.
Australian Kangaroos fullback Billy Slater says the memories of the 2008 World Cup loss to New Zealand have no affect on the current side as they flew out for Manchester.
In the final New Zealand upset the highly favored Aussies, and Slater is just one of five remaining players left from that 34-20 loss.
Slater was one of the key reasons why his side lost the final.
Trailing 18-16 to the Kiwis with 20 minutes remaining, Slater threw a suicidal pass back over the heads of his teammates and gifted Benji Marshall a try that effectively sealed the victory for New Zealand.
The game is one of the few real low points in the glittering career of Melbourne and Queensland fullback, but five years on the 30-year-old said he’s not haunted by the incident.
Australia will go into the tournament as warm favorites, but they are expected to be challenged by strong sides from England and New Zealand.
The Kangaroos will go into a 10-day camp before the first game of the tournament when they play England in Cardiff on October 26.
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